Hopper construction for dispensers of granular material

ABSTRACT

A hopper bottom wall member and a cooperating gate member for mobile hoppers for dispensing granular material over the ground, the members each having spaced discharge openings of identical size and shape. The gate member is movable in opposite directions to move its openings between positions of full registration with the openings in the bottom wall member and material flow shut-off positions completely out of registration with the openings in the bottom wall member. The bottom wall member is mounted on the hopper for easy removal therefrom and the gate member is mounted on the bottom wall member.

United States Patent [1 1 Grandrud Dec. 4, 1973 HOPPER CONSTRUCTION FORI DISPENSERS 0F GRANULAR MATERIAL Inventor:iabeifliirkf'sTinfiiidffidfBbx 528, Owatonna, Minn. 55060 Filed: Oct.16, 1972 Appl. No.: 297,655

US. Cl. 222/177, 222/485 Int. Cl. A010 15/08 Field of Search 222/485,176, 565,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/l957 Gaiman 222/177 X 12/1953Gandrud 222/177 10/1969 Schnell et al. 222/177 Primary Examiner-Stanleyl-l. Tollberg Attorney-Ralph F. Merchant et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A hopper bottom wall member and a cooperating gate memberfor mobile hoppers for dispensing granular material over the ground, themembers each having spaced discharge openings of identical size andshape.

The gate member is movable in opposite directions to move its openingsbetween positions of full registration with the openings in the bottomwall member and material flow shut-off positions completely out ofregistration with the openings in the bottom wall member. The bottomwall member is mounted on the hopper for easy removal therefrom and thegate member is mounted on the bottom wall member.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures HOPPER CONSTRUCTION FOR DISPENSERS OFGRANULAR MATERIAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is in thenature of an improvement over dispensing hopper structures of the typedisclosed in my prior U. S. Pat. Nos. 2,350,107; 2,630,945; 2,759,637;and.2,848,l43, the bottoms and gate members of which have dischargeopenings relatively movable between positions of full registration andpositions completely out of registration. These openings are ofgenerally diamond shape elongated in directions of;

movement of the gate member. As such, these openings permit extremeaccuracy in adjustment of material flow therethrough. However, when thegate members of these structures are moved to provide discharge openingsof relatively smaller sizes, material discharged.

thereto drops to the ground in laterally spaced rows. This isparticularly disadvantageous when it is desired to distribute thegranular material over the ground in a uniform layer that is continuousfrom end to end. of the hopper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An important object of this invention is theprovision of a hopper bottom construction for dispensers of granularmaterial which. is capable of delivering granular material to the groundin a continuous layer fromend to end of an elongated hopper, and at arelatively low rate of flow of material.

Another object of this invention is the provision-of a hopper bottomconstruction whichis quickly and easily mounted on or removed from theupper portion of the dispensing hopper; I

Yet another object of this invention is the provision of a hopper bottomwall member and gate member having cooperating openings of a shape whichprovides for close spacing of discharge streams of material from thehopper and for accurate and fine. variations in the density or volume ofdischarge.

To the above ends, I provide ahopper' bottom wall: member and acooperating gate member slidably. carried by the bottom wall member, themembers having discharge openings of identical shape and size. Theopenings in both members arespaced apart a distance greater than-thedimension of each opening longitudinally of the direction of movement ofthe gate member. Each opening is generally triangular in shape, havingone edge extending transversely. of the direction of movement of thegate member,.and' other edges converging from the opposite ends of theone edge and. in a direction longitudinally of the direction of movementof the gate member. The bottom wall member has a pair of longitudinallyextending anchoring members in its opposite sides, the anchoring membershaving outwardly projecting upper and lower flanges. Latches attached tothe hopper have latch hooks engagingthe upper flanges to releasably lockthe bottom wall member to the hopper, and thegate member includes a pairof spaced longitudinal flanges overlying the. lower flanges of theanchoring members to hold the gate member'against the bottomsurface ofthe bottom wall member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view in frontelevation of a hopper for dispensing granular material, showing thebottom wall and gate member construction of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section taken substantiallyon the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in bottom plan of a portion ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view corresponding to a portion ofFIG. 1 and diagrammatically illustrating flow of granular material fromthe discharge openings of the hopper; and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views corresponding to FIGS. 3 and 4 respectively butshowing hopper bottom construction and material flow paths of my priordispensing hoppers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIGS. 1 and 2, anelongated mobile hopper for dispensingv granular material is shown ascomprising a main hopper body 1 having downwardly converging front andrear or sidewalls 2 and. 3 respectively and generally verticallydisposed end walls 4, the open top of the hopper body 1 being normallyclosed by a cover 5. A pair of bracket elements 6 are secured to the endwalls 4 by means of wing nut-equipped screws or studs 7, andlserve tomount suitable bearings 8 which journal opposite. end portions of ashaft 9 of a feeding rotor 10 contained within the bottom portion of thehopper and extending. longitudinally thereof. Means for impartingmaterial feeding. rotation to the rotor 10 includes a sprocket wheel 11pinned orotherwise rigidly secured to one end portion of the rotor shaft9, and a link chain l2which is fragmentarily shown in FIG. 1 and whichmay be assumed to be entrained over suitable rotary driving means, notshown.

The hopper structure, bearings, rotor and driving means, abovedescribed, are fully disclosed in one or more of my prior. patents,above identified, and in and of themselves, do not comprise the instantinvention. Hence, inthe interest of brevity, further detailed showinganddescription thereof is ommitted. It should suffice to state that,inuse, the longitudinal dimension of the hopper and axis of the rotor-10 is disposed in a direction transversely of the direction of movementof the hopper.

The hopper bottom of this invention comprises an elongated bottom wallmember 13 and a cooperating elongated valve acting gate member 14. Thebottom wall member 13. comprises a longitudinally extending upwardlyopening arcuatebottom portion 15 and laterally spaced longitudinal sidewall portions 16 that diverge upwardly from the arcuate bottom portion15 and' which have opposed inner surfaces that are disposed inface-to-face engagement with outer surfaces of respective ones of thefront and rear or side hopper walls 2 and 3. As shown in FIG. 2,theupper edges of the side wall portions 16 are downturned, as indicatedat 17, to add stifiening to the side wall portions 16 and provide asmooth upper edge thereto. The arcuate bottom portion '15 of the bottomwall member 13 is pierced to provide a plurality of longitudinallyspaced discharge openings 18 for flow of granular material outwardlytherethrough from the interior of the hopper.

A pair of elongated, generally channel-shaped, anchoring members 19 arewelded or otherwise rigidly secured each to a different one of theupwardly diverging side wall portions 16 and extend longitudinallythereof. The anchoring members 19 have their upper edges downtumed toprovide longitudinally extending downwardly opening flanges or hooks 20.The lower edges of the anchoring members 19 are outtumed to providelaterally outwardly projecting longitudinal flanges 21. Not only do theanchoring members 19 serve to stiffen the upwardly diverging side wallportions 16 but the hooks 20 thereof form a portion of means forreleasably locking the bottom wall member 13 in place. Each of the sidewalls 2 and 3 is provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced latches22, each thereof comprising a latch lever 23 pivotally mounted on itsrespective wall 2 and 3 by means of brackets 24, and resilient latchhooks 25 pivotally carried by the latch levers 23 and having upturnedlower ends 26 that hookingly engage the downwardly opening hooks 20.

The gate element 14 is formed to provide a crosssectionally arcuatebottom portion 27 which nestingly receives a part of the arcuate bottomportion 15, upwardly diverging wall or wing portions 28 and inturnedlongitudinal flanges 29, each flange 29 overlying a different one of theflanges 21 and supporting the intermediate arcuate portion 27 againstthe arcuate portion 15 of the bottom wall member 13. The gate member 14is pierced to provide a plurality of longitudinally spaced dischargeopenings 30 that are identical in number, size, shape and spacing as thedischarge openings 18 in the bottom wall member 13.

The gate member 14 is longitudinally slidable with respect to the bottomwall member 13 between one position wherein the openings 30 are in fullregister with respective ones of the discharge openings 18, and anotherextreme position wherein the openings 30 are disposed between adjacentones of the openings 18, so that the openings 18 are closed againstdischarge of material downwardly from the interior of the hopper. Itshould here be noted that the spacing between the discharge openings 18as well as that between the openings 30 is slightly greater than thedimension of each opening 18 or 30 in the direction longitudinally ofthe members 13 and 14, so that complete closing of the dischargeopenings can be effected.

For the purpose of imparting sliding movements to the gate member 14relative to the bottom wall member 13, I provide a plate-like member 31that is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the gate member 14, asindicated at 32 and projects generally upwardly therefrom. The platemember 31 is provided adjacent one end with a handle 33, and adjacentits opposite end is provided with a stud 34 on which is pivotallymounted a cam element 35. A wing nut 36 is screw-threaded on the stud 34to releasably lock the cam in desired positions of rotary movementthereof. The edge of the cam 35 is adapted to abuttingly engage a stopelement 37 that projects laterally outwardly from the adjacent anchoringmember 19 and side wall portion 16, to limit sliding movement of thegate member 14 in a direction wherein the openings 30 approach fullregistration with cooperating ones of the discharge openings 18. Theadjacent anchoring member 19 is formed to provide a laterally outwardlyprojecting stop element 38 for engagement with the handle-equipped endof the plate member 31 when the gate member 14 is moved to a positionwherein the discharge openings 18 are fully closed by portions of thegate member 14 between the openings 30 therein. The feed ratecontrolling cam 35 is of the type disclosed in one or more of theabove-mentioned U. S. patents.

It will be noted, with reference to FIG. 3, that each of the dischargeopenings 18 and 30 is of generally right triangular outline, each havingan edge portion 39 that extends transversely of the longitudinaldimension of the members 13 and 14 and which may be termed thehypotenuse edge of each triangular opening. Other edges of each opening18 and 30, indicated at 40 and 41, may be designated as base andaltitude edges of each triangular opening, and coverge from the oppositeends of their respective edge 39 in a direction longitudinally of themembers 13 and 14. As shown in FIG. 3, an apex portion 42 of eachopening 30 moves into register with an overlying one of the openings 18when the gate member 14 is moved in a direction to cause abuttingengagement between the cam 35 and stop element 37. It will be noted,that the positioning of the cam 35 in its rotary movement on the stud 34determines the amount of overlap between each discharge opening 18 andits respective opening 30.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, a hopper bottom wall member 43 and gate member 44 areshown, these having respective discharge openings 45 and 46 that arediamond shaped. The members 43 and 44 may be assumed to be similar tothe members 13 and 14 respectively, the diamond shaped openings 45 and46 being those of my prior patents above identified. In comparing FIG. 5to FIG. 3, it will be noted that, when the gate members 14 and 44 arepositioned to provide a small overlap of discharge openings with theirrespective bottom wall members 13 and 43, that the resultant dischargeapertures are quite small and spaced at a maximum distance apart. Withsuch spacing of the members 43 and 44, it will be noted that thedischarge flow stream of material through each discharge opening,indicated by broken lines 47 in FIG. 6, are so spaced apart that thematerial is discharged to the ground in laterally spaced rows thereofwhen the hopper is moved over the ground in its normal operation. Withthe arrangement shown in FIG. 3, the discharge openings 18 and 30 mayeach have an area substantially equal to that of each discharge opening45 and 46. However, the triangular shape and arrangement of thedischarge openings 18 and 30 permits the spacing between each opening 18and each opening 30 to be substantially closer than that between theopenings 45 and between the openings 46. The flow of material from thedischarge openings in the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 3 isillustrated in FIG. 4, the flow streams being indicated by broken lines48. It will be noted that, by having the discharge openings more closelyspaced, the material discharged through the openings 18 and 30 coversthe ground in a continuous uniform layer from end to end of the members13 and 14. This is particularly advantageous when broadcast seeding orspreading of fertilizer or plant food for broadcast seeded crops.

While I have shown and described a commercial embodiment of my improvedhopper bottom construction, it will be understood that the same iscapable of modification without departure from the spirit and scope ofthe invention, as defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. A hopper bottom for a granular material dispensing hopper havingspaced side walls and opposite end walls, the side walls havingdownwardly converging flat lower side wall portions, said hopper bottomcomprising:

a. an elongated bottom member having opposite longitudinal edges, alongitudinally extending cross member longitudinally of the bottommember, and upwardly diverging generally flat side portions projectingtangentially outwardly from said central portion of the gate member,said generally flat side sectionally arcuate central portion, andupwardly 5 portions having inturned outer longitudinal edges divergingopposite side portions tangential to said defining flanges each disposedin overlying sliding arcuate central portion and extending to said sideengagement with the lower flange of a different one edges, said sideportions adjacent the side edges of said channel members; thereof eachbeing disposed in face-to-face engagee. said arcuate portions of thebottom and gate memment with a different one of said hopper side walls;10 bers having longitudinally spaced discharge openb.apair of laterallyoutwardly opening channel memings therein, said openings in said gatemember bers extending longitudinally of the bottom membeing identical inshape, size and spacing to those bet and each having a flat intermediateportion seof said bottom member and movable between full cured to theouter surface of a different one of said registration with the bottommember openings and opposite side portions and upper and lowerlaterfully out of register therewith responsive to longitually outwardlyprojecting longitudinal flanges; c. latches on said hopper side wallsengaging the upper flanges to secure the said bottom member to dinalmovement of the gate member relative to the bottom member. 2. The hopperbottom defined in claim 1 inwhich said longitudinal side edges of thehopper bottom member are folded outwardly and downwardly against theirrespective side portions to provide stifiening means for said sideportions.

tommember for sliding movements of the gate

1. A hopper bottom for a granular material dispensing hopper havingspaced side walls and opposite end walls, the side walls havingdownwardly converging flat lower side wall portions, said hopper bottomcomprising: a. an elongated bottom member having opposite longitudinaledges, a longitudinally extending cross sectionally arcuate centralportion, and upwardly diverging opposite side portions tangential tosaid arcuate central portion and extending to said side edges, said sideportions adjacent the side edges thereof each being disposed inface-to-face engagement with a different one of said hopper side walls;b. a pair of laterally outwardly opening channel members extendinglongitudinally of the bottom member and each having a flat intermediateportion secured to the outer surface of a different one of said oppositeside portions and upper and lower laterally outwardly projectinglongitudinal flanges; c. latches on said hopper side walls engaging theupper flanges to secure the said bottom member to said hopper; d. and anelongated gate member having a cross-sectionally arcuate central portionunderlying and nestingly engaging the arcuate portion of said bottommember for sliding movements of the gate member longitudinally of thebottom member, and upwardly diverging generally flat side portionsprojecting tangentially outwardly from said central portion of the gatemember, said generally flat side portions having inturned outerlongitudinal edges defining flanges each disposed in overlying slidingengagement with the lower flange of a different one of said channelmembers; e. said arcuate portions of the bottom and gate members havinglongitudinally spaced discharge openings therein, said openings in saidgate member being identical in shape, size and spacing to those of saidbottom member and movable between full registration with the botTommember openings and fully out of register therewith responsive tolongitudinal movement of the gate member relative to the bottom member.2. The hopper bottom defined in claim 1 in which said longitudinal sideedges of the hopper bottom member are folded outwardly and downwardlyagainst their respective side portions to provide stiffening means forsaid side portions.